Depression Support Group

Depression is a real and debilitating condition that is often misunderstood by family and friends. Its meaning can range from a prolonged period of sadness to an actual mental illness with specific symptoms. Find and share experiences with others who are going through the same struggles.

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and others automatically assume everything should be peachy. What??!! Why a long face? You should be all happy. You have a loving husband and a beautiful daughter. You have a decent job. You SHOULD be alright. I should be, huh. BUT IM NOT!!!
And dont you lecture me on how I should handle my medications or what should I do with my spare time or how many kids to have or whatever! I dont butt into your life so butt out of mine.

How can we explain the illness to people that do not understand what mental illness is.

It has a stigma that most people dont feel comfortable talking about and automatically think mentally ill people are crazy. That is not the case it is like any other illness.

The trouble is it is an internal illness from the outside we look normal the general misconception is that we can just shake it off, or can be happy if we want at will.

The trouble with depression is that people don't understand, the first thing I would recommend is that you have your spouse, family member or a responsible person to attend a therapy or doctors visit with you, so they can get a better handle on what it is all about.

There are also many books you can get from the Library that fully explain the illness you can share with family or friends.
Here is my take on why people think you can just shake your-self and every thing will be all right.

Everybody at some times have had a mild version of depression, everyone has felt down, sad or had emotional problems this is normally referred to as seasonable depression that can come and go with out treatment therefore they think they just gave themselves a shake and they were cured.

If you break your arm there is a big bandage. If you break or sprain your angle you have a limp or a stookie. If you are in accident and bang your face you will be swollen possibly even black eyes. If you injure yourself cut your leg or arm they can see blood, if you have cancer they can see your hair is falling out. If you have a bad flu you will be sneezing, coughing and runny eyes they are all visual evidence you are hurting.

On the other hand with depression we look normal, maybe a little sad face but there is no visual evidence to prove we are ill. (Not that we should have to prove anything)

The way I explain it to people is I site all of the above, say these are all external illnesses, and depression is an internal illness I hurt on the inside where it is not easily detected visually no bandages, blood, or hair falling but it is every bit a serious illness.

You can tell them do you really think I would want to be as sad and down all the time if I was not ill. I would rather be happy and normal there is no way I can just wake up and feel good or shake it of.

I picked up my brother's ashes the other day at the funeral home which is one of the hardest things I've ever had to do and after I was handed the box containing the 4 small urns, the young man had me sign a paper and then told me to have great day. I was stunned and speechless. How about saying something like "I'm so sorry for your loss"?

I lost my son Brian, on 10/25. He was 48. Brian was injured by the prescription drug accutane when he was 23 years old. This medication was for acne, and he wanted to look good for job interviews after graduating from college. This drug damaged his liver, his digestive system and his immune system. He never fully recovered from this injury. He had two degrees, one in marketing, and...

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